US7603945B2 - Apparatus constituted by a plurality of dispensing assemblies for automatically preparing and dispensing espresso coffee - Google Patents

Apparatus constituted by a plurality of dispensing assemblies for automatically preparing and dispensing espresso coffee Download PDF

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Publication number
US7603945B2
US7603945B2 US11/604,860 US60486006A US7603945B2 US 7603945 B2 US7603945 B2 US 7603945B2 US 60486006 A US60486006 A US 60486006A US 7603945 B2 US7603945 B2 US 7603945B2
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
dispensing
connecting rod
cylinder member
assembly
coffee
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Expired - Fee Related
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US11/604,860
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English (en)
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US20070119311A1 (en
Inventor
Maurizio Beretta
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Gruppo Cimbali SpA
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Gruppo Cimbali SpA
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Assigned to GRUPPO CIMBALI S.P.A. reassignment GRUPPO CIMBALI S.P.A. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: BERETTA, MAURIZIO
Publication of US20070119311A1 publication Critical patent/US20070119311A1/en
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J31/00—Apparatus for making beverages
    • A47J31/24—Coffee-making apparatus in which hot water is passed through the filter under pressure, i.e. in which the coffee grounds are extracted under pressure
    • A47J31/34—Coffee-making apparatus in which hot water is passed through the filter under pressure, i.e. in which the coffee grounds are extracted under pressure with hot water under liquid pressure
    • A47J31/36—Coffee-making apparatus in which hot water is passed through the filter under pressure, i.e. in which the coffee grounds are extracted under pressure with hot water under liquid pressure with mechanical pressure-producing means
    • A47J31/3604—Coffee-making apparatus in which hot water is passed through the filter under pressure, i.e. in which the coffee grounds are extracted under pressure with hot water under liquid pressure with mechanical pressure-producing means with a mechanism arranged to move the brewing chamber between loading, infusing and ejecting stations
    • A47J31/3609—Loose coffee being employed
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J31/00—Apparatus for making beverages
    • A47J31/007—Apparatus for making beverages for brewing on a large scale, e.g. for restaurants, or for use with more than one brewing container

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus constituted by a plurality of dispensing assemblies for automatically preparing and dispensing espresso coffee, each assembly of the plurality being of the type comprising:
  • the assemblies for dispensing the coffee are normally provided with a cylinder body chamber whose volume is such to be able to also contain a quantity of coffee grounds equal to twice that necessary for preparing and dispensing a single coffee.
  • the diameter of the chamber remains constant, the quantity of two measures of coffee grounds necessarily leads to an increase in the thickness of the layer which will have to be passed through by the pressurized hot water which is introduced into the chamber when the request is made for a double coffee to be dispensed.
  • an essential condition for making a good espresso coffee is the constancy of the dispensing time which has to be maintained at approximately 25 seconds, irrespective of whether one measure or two measures of the beverage are being dispensed, the flow rate of the dispensing water must consequently be, when two measures of coffee are dispensed, double the flow rate used when a single measure is dispensed.
  • the double measure of coffee grounds involves the formation of a double layer with respect to that which is present for a single measure. Consequently, given equal fineness of the grounds, in an identical chamber provided with a filter having holes of a given diameter, the same times for preparing the beverage cannot be maintained when varying the measure.
  • the object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages encountered in automatic assemblies for dispensing one measure or two measures of coffee by means of an apparatus comprising dispensing assemblies which are intended for different types of dispensing, in order to optimize the quality of the coffee dispensed, and which are connected together so as to bring about a reduction in both the space occupied and production costs.
  • an apparatus constituted by a plurality of dispensing assemblies for automatically preparing and dispensing espresso coffee, each assembly of the plurality being of the type comprising:
  • FIG. 1 shows a perspective schematic view of an automatic dispensing assembly in accordance with the invention
  • FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the structure of a connecting rod of the kinematic arrangement for actuating the assembly which, in accordance with the invention, transfers the movement from a first dispensing assembly to an adjacent dispensing assembly;
  • FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an apparatus comprising two dispensing assemblies which are located one beside the other and which are operationally connected to each other in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an apparatus comprising three dispensing assemblies which are located beside each other and which are operationally connected to each other in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the connecting rod of FIG. 2 .
  • two spaced-apart side walls are designated 1 and 2 and form an intermediate space which is generally designated 3 .
  • Those walls may be composed of moulded plastics material although, for the purposes of the present invention, other materials, for example, metal materials, may result suitable.
  • the intermediate space 3 receives the operating members of the dispensing assembly which are known per se and which comprise a cylinder member 4 having a chamber 5 for containing a predetermined measure of coffee grounds, having a closed base which is provided with an opening for dispensing the prepared beverage, and being provided with an open top, as will be appreciated from FIG. 4 .
  • the same space 3 receives a piston member 6 which is provided with means 7 for supplying heated and pressurized water into the chamber 5 for preparing the beverage.
  • the cylinder member 4 and the piston member 6 can swing relative to each other between a position for charging and discharging the measure of coffee grounds, before and after the beverage is dispensed, respectively, and a position in which they are aligned with each other.
  • Said cylinder member 4 and said piston member 6 can be moved, in a conventional reciprocating manner, in order to close and open the chamber 5 by moving into and out of the cylinder member 4 .
  • Each assembly is actuated by a kinematic arrangement having a connecting rod and crank and having cam members which bring about the relative displacements and the oscillating of the piston member 6 and of the cylinder member 4 in the prescribed operating sequence.
  • the kinematic arrangement comprises a connecting rod 8 which is connected, at the end 9 thereof, to one of the sides of said piston member 6 and, at the opposite end 10 , to a respective crank 11 .
  • This latter is mounted on the shaft 12 which is supported by the opposing walls 1 and 2 .
  • the crank 11 which is positioned in the region of the walls 1 of the assembly is rigidly connected, by means of the shaft 12 , to a crank 13 which is positioned in the region of the wall 2 . It is therefore evident that, when a rotational movement is applied by a motor means to the crank 13 , the crank 13 further transmits, via the shaft 12 , the rotational movement to the crank 11 .
  • FIG. 3 in an apparatus configuration as illustrated in FIG. 3 also comprising, in addition to a dispensing assembly A, such as that in FIG. 1 , a second dispensing assembly B which is structurally identical to assembly A and whose kinematic arrangement having a connecting rod and crank is actuated by an electric motor 14 , optionally with a step-down arrangement being connected, the transmission of the movement from the kinematic arrangement of assembly B to that of assembly A is effected by means of a special bar-like connecting element which, in one embodiment thereof, is constituted by the connecting rod 15 illustrated in FIG. 2 .
  • That connecting rod 15 is provided with a first end piece 16 which is rigidly fixed to the end portion 17 of the connecting rod and a second end piece 18 which is rigidly fixed to the end portion 19 of the same connecting rod. Both the end pieces 16 and 18 extend parallel with the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod 15 as far as the respective ends 20 and 21 of the rod. Furthermore, both the end pieces 16 and 18 are spaced apart from the connecting rod 15 by means of respective spacer elements 22 and 23 by a predetermined distance in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod 15 .
  • the end pieces 16 and 18 are provided with means, indicated at 24 and 25 , for being connected, one to the piston member of the assembly A and the other to the crank 13 of the same assembly A, respectively.
  • the connecting rod 15 is connected to the piston member 6 b and the crank 11 b of the assembly B, respectively.
  • the connecting element for transferring the movement from a first dispensing assembly to an adjacent assembly is in the form of a bar 26 , as illustrated in FIG. 5 .
  • That bar 26 at the ends thereof, comprises the means 27 and 28 which correspond to those designated 24 and 25 on the connecting rod 15 , performing the same function.
  • the bar 26 has a thickness which is substantially equal to the thickness of the wall 2 of a dispensing assembly.
  • the connecting rod 15 or the bar 26 simultaneously act as the left-hand connecting rod, with reference to FIG. 3 , for the dispensing assembly B, and as the right-hand connecting rod for the dispensing assembly A, which is actuated by the same, single motor 14 which is associated with the dispensing assembly B.
  • the dispensing assembly A can be, for example, provided with a dispensing chamber which is optimized in order to dispense a single measure of coffee and the assembly B can be provided with a chamber which is optimized in order to dispense two measures, and both the assemblies can be actuated by a single motor 14 having suitable power. Therefore, there can be dispensed, in an optimum manner and at the same time, for example, a single coffee, by charging only assembly A, or only two coffees, by charging only assembly B, or there can further be dispensed three measures of coffee by charging the chambers of both assemblies A and B.
  • assemblies A and B may also be supplemented by an intermediate assembly C having a chamber which is optimized for one measure or for two measures of coffee, extending the performance range of the automatic apparatus and always providing high-quality beverages.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Apparatus For Making Beverages (AREA)
  • Beverage Vending Machines With Cups, And Gas Or Electricity Vending Machines (AREA)
US11/604,860 2005-11-28 2006-11-28 Apparatus constituted by a plurality of dispensing assemblies for automatically preparing and dispensing espresso coffee Expired - Fee Related US7603945B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP05425839A EP1800573B1 (de) 2005-11-28 2005-11-28 Vorrichtung bestehend aus einer Vielzahl von Brüheinheiten zur Zubereitung von Espresso-Kaffee
EP05425839.7 2005-11-28

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20070119311A1 US20070119311A1 (en) 2007-05-31
US7603945B2 true US7603945B2 (en) 2009-10-20

Family

ID=36061278

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/604,860 Expired - Fee Related US7603945B2 (en) 2005-11-28 2006-11-28 Apparatus constituted by a plurality of dispensing assemblies for automatically preparing and dispensing espresso coffee

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US7603945B2 (de)
EP (1) EP1800573B1 (de)
JP (1) JP2007144157A (de)
CN (1) CN1973740B (de)
AU (1) AU2006230682A1 (de)
CA (1) CA2564060A1 (de)
DE (1) DE602005003485T2 (de)
ES (1) ES2297659T3 (de)
PT (1) PT1800573E (de)
RU (1) RU2403851C2 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130139697A1 (en) * 2011-12-02 2013-06-06 Marco Ambrosini Device for compression of the filter-holder in the dispenser unit of professional coffee machines

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7640843B2 (en) 2003-01-24 2010-01-05 Kraft Foods R & D, Inc. Cartridge and method for the preparation of beverages
BRPI0406896A (pt) * 2003-01-24 2006-01-03 Kraft Foods R & D Inc Cartucho, pluralidade de cartuchos, e, método de fabricar um cartucho
US8224481B2 (en) * 2009-01-19 2012-07-17 Access Business Group International Llc Method and apparatus for dispensing fluid compositions
DE102010037189A1 (de) * 2010-08-27 2011-03-03 SEVERIN ELEKTROGERÄTE GmbH Brühgruppe für einen Getränkeautomaten
ITPN20120050A1 (it) * 2012-09-07 2014-03-08 Cma Macchine Per Caffe S R L MACCHINA DA CAFFEÂeuro¿ AUTOMATICA PER LA PREPARAZIONE DI CAFFEÂeuro¿ ESPRESSO
PT2959808T (pt) * 2014-06-27 2019-02-04 Gruppo Cimbali Spa Dispositivo melhorado para humedecer uma dose de café moído em máquinas de café com um elemento de aquecimento na unidade doseadora e processo de humedecimento
CA3010942A1 (en) * 2017-07-18 2019-01-18 Gruppo Cimbali S.P.A. Device for resetting the position of the grinding wheels in a grinder

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4800805A (en) * 1986-09-24 1989-01-31 Robert Krups Stiftung & Co. Kg. Espresso machine with cappuccino making attachment
US4852474A (en) * 1986-09-24 1989-08-01 Robert Krups Stiftung & Co. Kg Espresso machine with cappuccino making attachment
US5476033A (en) * 1993-01-27 1995-12-19 Cimbali S.P.A. Automatic machine for coffee beverage, deliverable as coffee alone or, combined with milk, in the form of cappuccino
US6006654A (en) * 1997-06-13 1999-12-28 Tcc Trading Limited Milk frothing apparatus and method
EP1306041A1 (de) 2001-10-26 2003-05-02 Omnimatic S.p.A. Antriebsvorrichtung für ein Brühaggregat, insbesondere für Espresso-Kaffeemaschinen
US6901848B2 (en) * 2002-05-06 2005-06-07 Cimbali S.P.A. Device for heating and working up milk

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DE3407030C1 (de) * 1984-02-27 1991-01-03 Gesamat AG, Ballwil Vorrichtung zur Zubereitung von Heissgetraenken
IT1233288B (it) * 1989-07-07 1992-03-26 Vallecchi Marcello Vallecchi M Dispositivo elettromeccanico per formare automaticamente dosi singole di caffe' espresso
DE19647385C1 (de) * 1996-11-15 1998-08-13 Spengler Getraenkemaschinen Gm Brühaggregat zur Zubereitung von Kaffee oder Tee
ATE227536T1 (de) * 1997-03-13 2002-11-15 Egro Ag Kaffeeautomat
JP2002008126A (ja) * 2000-06-16 2002-01-11 Fuji Electric Co Ltd コーヒー抽出装置
KR100515471B1 (ko) * 2003-03-12 2005-09-20 삼성광주전자 주식회사 커피머신의 커피추출장치

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4800805A (en) * 1986-09-24 1989-01-31 Robert Krups Stiftung & Co. Kg. Espresso machine with cappuccino making attachment
US4852474A (en) * 1986-09-24 1989-08-01 Robert Krups Stiftung & Co. Kg Espresso machine with cappuccino making attachment
US5476033A (en) * 1993-01-27 1995-12-19 Cimbali S.P.A. Automatic machine for coffee beverage, deliverable as coffee alone or, combined with milk, in the form of cappuccino
US6006654A (en) * 1997-06-13 1999-12-28 Tcc Trading Limited Milk frothing apparatus and method
EP1306041A1 (de) 2001-10-26 2003-05-02 Omnimatic S.p.A. Antriebsvorrichtung für ein Brühaggregat, insbesondere für Espresso-Kaffeemaschinen
US6901848B2 (en) * 2002-05-06 2005-06-07 Cimbali S.P.A. Device for heating and working up milk

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130139697A1 (en) * 2011-12-02 2013-06-06 Marco Ambrosini Device for compression of the filter-holder in the dispenser unit of professional coffee machines

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20070119311A1 (en) 2007-05-31
RU2006141868A (ru) 2008-06-10
EP1800573B1 (de) 2007-11-21
EP1800573A1 (de) 2007-06-27
CN1973740A (zh) 2007-06-06
DE602005003485D1 (de) 2008-01-03
CN1973740B (zh) 2010-11-03
JP2007144157A (ja) 2007-06-14
AU2006230682A1 (en) 2007-06-14
CA2564060A1 (en) 2007-05-28
PT1800573E (pt) 2008-01-09
ES2297659T3 (es) 2008-05-01
RU2403851C2 (ru) 2010-11-20
DE602005003485T2 (de) 2008-10-02

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Owner name: GRUPPO CIMBALI S.P.A., ISRAEL

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Effective date: 20131020